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Good for: Special Occasion Dining, Local cuisine, Business meetings, Child-friendly, Bar Scene, Groups

Dining options: Dinner, Lunch, After-hours, Reservations

Description: Celebrating 30 years as a family owned and operated local's favorite, Kelly's features angus beef, chicken, pasta and vegetarian dishes, highlighting North Carolina Outer Banks Catch seafood! Enjoy a wide range of menu options from raw bar selections, grilled, broiled or fried fresh fish to steamed oysters, clams, shrimp and crab legs. Kelly's is famous not only for their fresh seafood dishes but for their mouth-watering sweet potato biscuits and made from scratch delectable desserts - made in house daily. Kelly's offers an extensive Wine Spectator award-winning wine collection that will complement any meal. The Executive Chef and culinary staff will accommodate gluten-free and other dietary requests. Families and groups large and small are always welcome and easily accommodated at Kelly's. Kid's menus are available. Kelly's boasts a AAA 3-Star rating and has been featured in Bon Appetit, Gourmet and NC's Our State magazines and numerous other publications. Dinner seating is Monday-Thursday from 4:30 until 9 pm, Friday-Saturday from 4:30 until 10 pm (except Christmas Day). The separate full-service tavern features nightly entertainment that has showcased not only the best regional bands but national acts as well. You can reserve space for a private party, including the tavern, or you can secure Kelly's for premier catering services with or without wait staff. Casual dining at its best with a unique, one-of-a-kind collection of local art, artifacts and Outer Banks memorabilia displayed throughout - Kelly's is must on your dining To Do list! Late night at Kelly's Outer Banks Tavern features live music, DJ's, karaoke and bar menu. Hours Monday-Thursday from 4:30 until 12 midnight, and Friday-Saturday from 4:30 until 2 a.m.

You can't go wrong by going to Kelly's! The service and atmosphere is outstanding, first class. I would have given the food and value a "5" except my prime rib was a "4", not a "5". It was very good, but not "outstanding". (The au jus was bland and the PR, though seasoned and very tender, was not well-seasoned.) My wife loved her fillet mignon and my 6-year-old grandson literally devoured his pasta and marinara. If you want to save, they have a 20% off early bird special. Come early and save! You'll experience the same outstanding service and atmosphere.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

KellysJune1985, Public Relations Manager at Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern, responded to this reviewResponded 22 June 2014

Hello Scarolinatraveler !! Thank you for choosing us for your dinner out, your comments and your recommendation. Our "Early Bird" runs from 4:30 to 5:30 every day (must be seated by 5:30). Come see us - early or late! We'll serve up a delicious meal for you from 4:30 'til 10:00, 364 days a year! BB

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I went here as part of a bus trip to the Outer Banks. While I was limited in my choices (as a result of coming as part of a bus group, not due to the full restaurant menu), I got the peppered tuna steak, and it was the best tuna I've ever had! My mom was there as well, and got the seafood combination. While she did not like hers quite as much as I did, she was very happy as well. In our 5 day trip, this was definitely the best OBX restaurant we ate at. The staff was also very friendly. If we ever make it back to OBX, Kelly's will definitely be a place we will visit again!

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Ask TroyETyson about Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

KellysJune1985, Public Relations Manager at Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern, responded to this reviewResponded 22 June 2014

Hello TroyETyson! It's our pleasure! We always enjoy our tour groups! Makes us so happy to read, "definitely the best OBX restaurant we ate at"!! Thank you very much for letting us know about your experience at Kelly's. Hope you'll return soon. BB Note: if you come to dine with us and see a bus or two in our parking lot.....have no worries!! Our bus tours are always prearranged and do not interfere with our other diners. There's plenty for everyone!

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Our family of four has been coming to Kellys Restaurant every year for the past 15 years. Always a great experience. We always get the same private dining room and love our meals at Kelly's. Mr Kelly visits our table every time and is a pleasure to speak with and is quick to tell you about his newest treasures he's found to decorate his restaurant. Filet oscar is always our go to meal at this restaurant as well as the seafood platters and their crab legs for our family. Homemade desserts are a great end to a fabulous meal. My brother and sister in law got married on the beach in Nags Head last summer and we chose to have a special meal with both families after the ceremony here at Kelly's in their large side room. They also made a wedding cake for our family to enjoy that night. Very accommodating and sweet staff. Always a must go for our family when on the Outer Banks!

Ask danimarie02 about Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

KellysJune1985, Public Relations Manager at Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern, responded to this reviewResponded 25 May 2014

Wow! Danimarie02 Thank you for your many evenings out with us and sharing your special occasions with us too. Isn't that Filet Oscar fabulous!! Great food from appetizers to desserts - wines, spirits, beverages for all tastes and desires.There's something for all occasions! Mr. Kelly always wants his guests to enjoy themselves to the fullest, which begins with our famous sweet potato biscuits!. Thank you for you kind and informative review. We look forward to your next dinner with us. BB

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We were looking for a restaurant at which to celebrate a very special anniversary and decided to try Kelly’s Restaurant and Tavern. It has a family-friendly, casual atmosphere with a seafarer theme throughout the main dining room, tavern, etc. We dined on filet mignon served with jumbo lump crab, asparagus, potatoes, and a special smoked Gouda cream sauce (done to perfection), adult beverages and desserts consisting of Crème Brulee (scrumptious) and vanilla cheesecake (delicious). The hostess was friendly – the wait staff accommodating – good service – the food superb - generous portions for the money (a little pricey, but worth every cent). It’s a great place for special occasions.

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Ask Cuz39 about Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern

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KellysJune1985, Public Relations Manager at Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern, responded to this reviewResponded 25 May 2014

Happy Anniversary Cuz39!! Thank you so much for sharing your special occasion with us! We really hope you will make this a tradition. Remember too, there's always a good reason to come to Kelly's! Hope you'll be back in soon! BB

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My family and friends have been going to Kelly's every year since I was a child. We make Kelly's our group dinner out for the week, where everyone on vacation with us goes together for a dinner out one night, instead of cooking at the beach house or going to different restaurants to suit everyone's needs. The food is consistently good, the service is always great, and they take reservations and are always more than accommodating for our large party of diners (last vacation we had 13, but we have over 20 people in some years.) The sweet potato biscuits they serve are out of this world, the seafood is always fresh, and they have a large variety of food on their menu, as we have one person in our group that hates seafood, another that is allergic to shellfish, and a third person is vegetarian. Kelly's had something for everyone, and everyone seemed to enjoy their meal. It's consistent a good meal when we have gone. The real reason to go here, however, is their desserts. Best on the beach. They always have something new, and every dessert we have ever gotten here has been beyond incredible. Definitely try their cookies and cream mousse or the creme brulee.

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Ask Brandi R about Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

KellysJune1985, Public Relations Manager at Kelly's Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern, responded to this reviewResponded 25 May 2014

BrandiR, thank you for your lovely review ! We love to see a group that is several generations large! We are blessed to have many families who have been our friends for decades. We are celebrating our 30th season and plan for many more to come. Our outstanding chefs are always happy to provide special needs and choices, delicious of course! Our commitment to our guests is threefold. First, we make every effort to present the freshest ingredients available featuring North Carolina seafood and tender Iowa Beef. Secondly, our staff is trained to accommodate and we're confident they will serve up warm and knowledgeable OBX hospitality, making an effort to make you feel at home. And finally, we have also accumulated a collection of authentic OBX memorabilia sure to intrigue. We urge you to take the time to browse at your leisure. There's room for everyone so give us a call. And be advised....save room for dessert!! Thank you BrandiR and family for allowing us be a part of your great memories from the Outer Banks! BB

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